Surry Light Artillery and Martin’s, Wright’s, Coffin’s Batteries of Virginia Artillery

By Lee A. Wallace; 1995, 1^st Signed Limited Edition (#560 of 1,000); published by H. E. Howard, Inc., Lynchburg, VA.; 156pp. in very good condition. Part of the Virginia Regimental Histories Series.

The Surry Light Artillery was organized as infantry and assigned to the 3rd Regiment Virginia Infantry. During April, 1862, it was transferred to the artillery. The unit was assigned to the Richmond defenses and later to C.E. Lightfoot's Battalion, Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. It participated in the operations against Petersburg and ended the war at Appomattox with 19 men.

Martin's Battery was organized in April, 1862, with men from North Carolina and Virginia. For a time it was attached to the 12th Battalion Virginia Artillery. Later the men from North Carolina were transferred to the 13th North Carolina Artillery Battalion. This company served at Suffolk, then was assigned to F.G. Boggs', B.F. Eshleman's, and N.A. Sturdivant's Battalion of Artillery. Much of the time it was attached to the Department of Richmond and on duty south of the James River. The unit had 1 man wounded at Kelly's Store and in February, 1864, totaled 48 effectives. In March, 1865, it was converted to heavy artillery and manned the guns on the outer line below Richmond. Captain S. Taylor Martin was in command.

Wright's Battery was organized in 1862 as the Halifax Artillery. It later served as Company C for De Gournay's Battalion (also known as the 12th Battalion Louisiana Heavy Artillery). This company remained in Virginia after the rest of the battalion was sent to Mississippi. It was known as Captain Samuel T. Wright's Company of the Virginia Heavy Artillery or Wright's Battery.

Coffin's Battery was organized in 1862 and was also known as Bethel Artillery. It served as Company D in Ed Gournay's Battalion of Heavy Artillery (also known as 12th Battalion Louisiana Heavy Artillery). This company went with the battalion to Mississippi. It was also known as Captain W. Norris Coffin's Company of the Virginia Heavy Artillery.

Contains annotated rosters of the 4 units.